Shipping container



April 16, 1929. w. w. WHITE 1,709,510

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed April 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 16, 1929. w. w. wHl'rE SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed April 29. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 10 INVENTOR n ATTORNEY Patented Apr. i16, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFEiCE.

WILLIAM W. WHITE, F KENNETT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 PHILIP A I.. GARRETT, 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, TRUSTEE.

SIIPPING CONTAINER.

Application led April 29, 1927. Serial No. 187,623.

iiiis invention particularly relates to .the insulation of containers and the like against temperature exchange, while the particular example illustrated for purposes of explanation happens to show a container for storing: shipping, and delivering products and for other purposes where `it is desired to protect such products against temperature exchange; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanations of the accompanying drawings that illustrate what I now believe to be the preferred mechanical expression or embodiment of the invention from among other forms, constructions, materials and arrangement within the spirit and scope of the invention. 1

A specific object of the invention is to provide a so-called shipping container and the like, wherein the great Strength, comparative-lightness, `durability, moisture-.resisting and insulating qualities, cushioningoi; semi-elastic qualities, toughness, and stiffness, of the commercial product known as 'sheet vulcanized fibre, other sheet 0r material possessing substantially like characteristics, are' utilized to the maximum, in conneet-ion with the. insulating ualities and low cost of so-called corrugate paper or substantially similar sheet fbrousmaterial of cellular formation or that' will form in the completed wall layers of insulating air cells.

A further object of the invention is to provide various novel features in structure, ar-

rangement and/or combination for the production of an improved and advantageous durable semi-elastic or cushioning, strong insulatingwall or barrel for containers.

With the foregoing and otherobjects in view, my invention consists in cert/ain novel features and in structures and arrangements, and/or in combinations, as more fully and particularly set forth and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof Fig. l shows a container of my invention in perspective, the cover being shown locked inclosed position. v

Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the container being loaded, say with a can of ice cream, vthe container cover being shown' detached.

F ig. 3l is a detail perspective showing the split mouth ring and the flanged upper portion of the inner can embraced thereby and interlocked therewith. v

Fig. 4 shows the mouth and cover portions of the container in longitudinal section.

Fig. 5 shows the insulating barrel of the container in cross section, somewhat diagramniatically to bring out the peculiar inl or barrel, indicated in Fig. l of the drawings, by the reference numeral l, and this barrel, in this example, is cylindrical and as an .entirety constitutes not only the strong,

"rigid backbone or main frame unit structure of the container, but also the surrounding insulating Wall of the container.

This barrel is built up to form what might be termed a unitary structure, that embodies strong stiff insulating moreA or less resilient or elastic inner and outer concentric spaced walls or cylinders 2, 3, tied together by intervening stiffening and insulating plies 4.

For instance, the inner and outer cylinders or walls 2, 3, and in part the intervening insulation, are all formed, preferably, by one continuous rolled or convolutely Wound sheet of vulcanized fibre of the desired thickness, tensile strength, and hardness or stiffness. For instance, a sheet of, say .010, more or less, vulcanized fibre, produced by Well known oi' other suitable methods (as by the treatment of sheet paper niaterialfwith acid and subsequent treatments to remove or neutralize the acid, and amalgamation by heat and' pressure into laminated or multiply sheet formation) can be utilized to form said barrel unit with the addition of other insulating material between the inner and outer connected walls yof they barrel. To accomplish this result, I have lemployed a driven rotary collapsible mandrel having an ex' CTI then start to tightly wind one end of the rolled vulcanized sheet, on the mandrel to form the laminated inner Wall 2, of several tightly wound convolutions or plies of vulcanized sheet fibre, the plies of which have adhesive applied thereto to adhere together but not to the mandrel. WVhen the inner cylinder 2, is thus formed, one end of the rolled corrugated paper sheet 5, is then started with the vulcanized fibre sheet, to

wind on the cylinder 2, that remains on the mandrel, to form a radially thick wall or layer composed of a multiplicity of overlying double plies (of vulcanized fibre 4, and

corrugated paper 5) cemented together and surrounding the cylinder 2. Adhesive is applied to the stiff fibre sheet and the corrugated paper sheet that movetogether in parallelism onto the inner wall 2, on the mandrel and are tightly wound thereon until wall 2 is surrounded by a thick concentric insulating and stiffening wall generally indicated by 6, in certain views of the drawings. When this insulating Wall has reached the desired thickness, the corrugated paper sheet is cut from its roll to stop the feed of corrugated paper to the mandrel, so that continued rotation of the mandrel continues the y winding of the vulcanized fibre sheet alone A on the insulating wall 6, to form the thick strong laminated outer wall or cylinder 3, of the container body, of the required number of overlying convolutions to provide the outer Wall of the cylinder of the desired thickness and strength. The vulcanized fibre sheet is then cut from the roll. Adhesive is applied to the vulcanized fibre sheet to cause the multiplicity of tightly wound convolutions thereof to adhere together.

It will be noted that the water resistant hard stift` vulcanized fibre sheet that forms the stiff yet semi-elastic inner and outer Walls of the container barrel, is continuous throughout the insulating wall and extends from the inner wall to the outer wall of the barrel and thereby not only adds ma, terially to the Water resistant and insulating value of the structure but greatly strengthens and stiffens the unit and protects, sustains, and backs the more or less weak iexible compressible, absorbent corru ated paper sheet.

he corrugations of the corrugated sheet extend transversely thereof, and are fed to the' mandrel with the vulcanized backing sheet so that in the finished container barrel the corrugations extend longitudinally of the barrel to form a great multiplicity ofair cells intervening between and separating the vulcanized fibre sheets, constituting an 7 exceedingly efficient insulation, particularly in the completed container wherein the air cells are closed at the ends to form dead air cells.

' The outer cylinder of the barrel consti- 7 tutes the outer wall of the container, and if so desired can be provided with an exterior covering of 'duck' or other suitable fabric adhering thereto and shrunk thereon, al

though I do not wishto so limit my inven- 8 tion.

This container barrel is provided with a suitable permanent bottom closure, and a suitable top structure and mouth formation.

For instance, in the example shown, the 8 permanent bottom closure of the container embodies a thick strong imperforate bottom disk 8, inset Within the lower end of the barrel outer or main wall 3, and, if so desired, several parallel. insulating disks 9,*9

cemented or otherwise secured together and to the top face of bottom 8 and to the inner surface of wall 3, and to the lower ends of lwalls 2 and 6 of the container barrel, and

a heavy exterior flanged metal ring l1, eX- 9 teriorly fitting the lower end of barrel wall 3, and the circumferential portion of the under face `of bottom 8, and secured by screws 10, or other suitable fastenings extending radially through the vertical fiange 1 of the ring 11, into the bottom 8.

After the insulating and container barrel unit, is removed from the mandrel on which it is formed, such unit is interiorly and annularly rabbeted within both ends, so that l the thick strong outside wall 3, will project beyond the ends of the inside wall 2, and intermediate Wall 5, which walls 2 and 5 are coextensive in length and terminate in squarely cutoff ends to form fiat annular 1 shoulders within the wall 3.

Before the bottom closure is' inserted in the lower end of the barrel and insulathg unit, I prefer to coat the inner surface of the projecting lower end of wall 3, and -the ad- 1 jacent internal shoulder formed 'by the cutoff ends of 'Walls 2, 5, with an suitable waterproofing sealing adhesive suc as itch, bitumen, etc. and thenV insert the dis 9,

applying the sealing adhesive as the disks 1 A9, are inserted, and finally inserting bottom 8, although Iv do not wish to so limit my invention. I desire, however, to provide an insulating sealed liquid tight exceedingly durable bottom closure for the barrel 1 ring shoulder a.

removable closing and sealing cover, and also provides for securimv the upper end of the inner can or metal ining and for the 4provision of a liquid tight joint between said ring and the upper end of said 1nner can.

In the particular example illustrated, the mouth ring 15, is composed of a suitable hard strong wood preferably treated to render the same water resistant, although I do not wish to so limit my invention. This ring is preferably formed with a cylindrical vertical outer surface and a flat lower end. The rin" is internally rabbeted from its upper entl to rovide a depressed internal upwardly facmg annular shoulder 15a. The rin" is inset in the upper end of the barrel an insulating unit to snugly fit within the projecting upper end of outer wall ,3, with its lower end resting on and covering the internal annular shoulder formed by the cut olf ends of the inner walls 2, 5, the inner surface of projecting end of wall 3, and the ends of walls 2, 5, having first been covered with and sealed by a suitable sealing and waterproofing adhesive, such for instance as hereinbefore described in connection with the container bottom closure, although I do not wish to so limit all features of my invention.

y A strong metal ring 16, angular in cross section is preferably fitted on the upper end of the container with its inturned horizontal flange fitting down on the top face of mouth ring 15, and with its cylindrical vertical i flange snugly and eXteriorly fitting the outer surface of the upper end of wall 3. This metal ring can be secured by suitable means such as screws 17, extending radially and inwardly through the metal ring 16, and

l into the mouth ring 15.

The li uid ti ht lining of the container is in the orm o a durable sheet metal cylindrical can 18, fitted down within the innerl wall 2, and having a liquid tight flat boti tom resting on and backed by the container bottom, as by the top disk 9. The upper end .of this can its'snugly within the bore of the mouth ring 15, and terminates in said ring preferably a slight distance below the The can 18, is o en at the top, and its cylindrical wall at t e top is turned outwardly to form a horizontal annular ilange 18, and the upper end of the can is intel-locked with the mouth ring 15, through the medium of this lange and a ycomplementary annular groove 15", in the mouth ring to form a liquid tight joint between the ring and can. The horizontal annular groove 15", opens into the bore of the mouth ring a distance below shoulder 15a, and ext-ends radially outwardly through but a portion of the radial thickness of the ring and hence is closed except where it opens into the ring bore. This groove is '5 narrow to snugly receive the can flange which is preferably sealed therein against passage of moisture into the groove`along and around the outer edge of the flange.

It is highly advisable to prevent passage of liquid by seepage', capillary action or otherwise into vthe insulating barrel of the container, or into the container at the exterior of the inner metal can, and hence said can is liquid tight and a liquid tight joint is formed between the mouth ring and upper end of the can, and the flange and groove interlock between the can and mouth ring is very effective for this purpose. Said interlock also provides a strong and effective structural supporting joint between the upper end of the can and the upper end ot the remainder of the container, while the container is upheld at its lower end with respect to the container by the rigid inset bottom 8, 9, on which the can seats.

To provide for convenient assembly of the mouth ring and can, so that the can having the mouth ring applied to its upper end, can then as a unit be inserted in the upper end ofthe barrel unit and assembled therewith,

I preferably diagonally split the wood mouth ring tha has been previously completed and formed with the inner can flange receiving groove. This split is shown at 15d. By lreason of this split, the ring is rendered eXpansible and hence can be expanded and pushed down over the can flange until the flange enters the groove and the ring surrounds the upper end of the can. The ring will then spring back to closed position and normal diameter and the ring ends at the split can be tightly secured together with proper adhesive and one or more wood screws or by other means or method. The ring will then tightly lit on and around the can end.y The can with the ring secured and sealed on its upper end, is then inserted in the barrel to its proper permanent posi-- tion therein as hereinbefore described.

Any suitable removable cover, such as 20, is providedl to tightly close the mouth or open end of the container. In the example illustrated, this cover is in the form of an i11- sulating plug tting within the mouth ring and depending into the upper end of the can and having a horizontal rubber or other packing ring arranged'to` fit down on the annular shoulder 15, of the mouth ring for tightly sealing the container against entrance of air. This plug 20, is shown provided with a well known form of diametrically arranged spring metal fastening bar 21, projecting at its ends to pass down through notches 22, in metal ring 16, and swing laterally under the top flange of the ring to lock the cover in the container. The bar tends to spring up at its ends and is fastened at its central portion to the cover by a vertical bolt so that the bar can swin to and from locked position, all as will e readily understood by those skilled `in the art. My invention is not concerned with the particular means employed for locking the cover.

A can of frozen 1ce cream or any other 'product to be transported in and insulated container, I gain insulatingqualities, semielasticity to absorb or cushion blows, strength and durability with long life, decreased weight, and saving in cost, and this is particularly true where the barrel walls are composed of Wound or rolled sheet. vulcanized fibre to form multi-ply walls with intervening insulation forming in effect an integral part of the barrel approximately as hereinbefore set forth.

The protective exterior covering I), of duck or other heavy suitable treated fabric, that is permanently shrunk on and adhering to the exterior surface of the semi-elastic strong vulcanized fibre wall 3, is of advantage particularly where it is applied to com-l pletely cover the exterior surface of the wall and lap inwardly over the end edges thereof, and thus abut the inner horizontal surfaces of the horizontal flanges of the metal protecting rings 11, 16, and serve to seal the joints, at c, against passage of moisture.

As hereinbefore described, the ends of the radially thick insulating wall 6, 'are sealed against passage of moisture, and preferably to cause the ends of said Walls to adhere to the flat bottom face of top ring 15, and to the top faceof top disk 9, respectively, to form liquid tight joints. I find applications of asphalt in liquid condition, satisfactory for this purpose, particularly where the ends of wall 5, are completely covered with one or more layers of suitable fabric thoroughly impregnated with the asphalt, so that the -ends of wall 5 are rendered so far aspossible liquid and air tight by fabric and fabric seals d, which if so desired can lap ovei` `onto the adjacent cylindrical vertical surfaces of the walls 2 and 3. This end sealed formation, is of peculiar advantage 'where corrugated paper or its equivalent constitutes the insulating filling intervening between the overlapping wound plies of stiff strong, sheet material, such as vulcanized fibre, even though the insulating wall', should be formed separately from outer Wall 3,l and then be applied thereto for assembly in the container.

. In the particular example illustrated, the protecting bottom disk 8, is composed of some .suitable material such as hard Wood treated to render the same Water resistant. The insulating material 9, superim osed between disk 8, and the'lower end o insulating wall 5, and the bottom of inner can 18, is composedof one or more disks of strong material to form a proper supporting and cushioning backin for the can bottom and possessing a high egree of insulating prop' erty. I find on the market, exceedingly porous boards or sheets composed of matted or felted vegetable fibres, that are highly desirable for this purpose, and hence the disks 9, are cut from such boards, say about l@ inch in thickness more or less, although I do not wish to so limit my invention.

The cover 20, in the articular example illustrated comprises a. fi)at disk 20h, of strong thick material such las hard wood having a top metal facingQO", secured thereon. This disk 20",'is of a diameter to freely enter the enlarged upper portion of the bore of the` mouth ring and rest on the ring shoulder 15a. The packing or fiat rubber ring 20, faces the'` circumferential portion of the under face of the disk, the annular flange portion of the cover,` to seat down and be compressed against the ri'ng shoulder 15a. depending plug or reduced lower end of the cover that depends through the reduced lower portion of the ring 15 and into the upper end of the inner can 18, is composed of balsa wood 20e, fitted Within a cup like m'etal housing 20f, having its upper end flanged or turned inwardly. This metal housed depending plug is suitably secured and fixed to the cover top or disk 20h, to cooperate therewith in forming a surrounding horizontal annular groove in which the .inner annular portion of rubber ring 209,. is seated and con- .fined The upper end of the housing 20,

is flanged inwardly into the groove that retains the packing ring 15, and this flangev constitutes the bottom Wall 'or ledge of the groove to engage and uphold the packing ring. The duck covered insulating Wall or enclosure consisting of the laminated outer wall, the laminated cellular intermediate Wall and the laminated inner Wall can be of various formations in cross section, and in some instances can be composed of heavy cheap sheet paper cemented and wound as hereinbefore described with 'its intermediate adhereing convolutions faced by corrugated or air cell forming sheets of fibrous-sheet paper like material, such as asbestos paper, or common or other forms of corrugated paper or papers otherwise formed to provide the masses of air cells.

- It is evident that various changes, modiiications and variations might be resorted to The without departing from the spirit and .scope of my invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to substantially the exact disclosures hereof.

What I claim is 1. A container embodying a barrel unit having inner and outer walls and an intervening insulating wall, said several walls including and tied together by sheet vulcanized fibre, said intervening insulatin wall sealed at its ends and including insulating material in addition to said s heet vulcanized fibre.

2. A container barrel unit comprising a heavy enclosing outer wall and an inner wall both composed of plies of wound sheet vulcanized fibre, and an insulating wall intervening between said inner and outer walls and embodying plies of spaced sheet vulcanized fibre integral .with said inner and outer walls. p

3. -A container having its barrel outer wall built up of sheet vulcanized fibre wound into a multiplicity of overlying convolutions and a thick vinsulating wall within said outer wall and embodyin vulcanized fibre convolutions integral wit said outer wall and in tervening air cell forming sheets intervening between the vulcanized fibre convolutions.

4. A container comprising an insulating protective barrel having a ermanent bottom and a top mouth ring an an inner opentop can resting on said bottom and fitting in and secured to said ring, `and a removable top closure, said barrel embodying an outer wall, an inner wall and a thick intervening insulating wall, said outer and inner walls embodying a wound sheet of vulcanized fibre that extends through the intervening insulating wall.

5. A container barrel having a strong protective non-metallic sheet outer wall of several tightly wound cemented convolutions and a thick insulating inner wall sealed at its ends and tied to the outer Wall and composed of alternating convolutions of said wound`sheet and several convolutions of intei-vening air cell forming sheet material.

6. A container comprising an insulated protective barrel having a bottom closure and a mouth ring formed with an annular radial groove open through the annular inner vertical surface of the ring intermediateY the vertical length of said surface, a fixed metal can arranged longitudinally within said barrel and extending part way through said ring and having a top exterior annular fiange fittedV within said radial groove and thereby interlocking the can and ring, the upper end of the can being snugly surrounded by the ring and inset down in the ring, and a removable cover seated down in the ring and projecting down into the can.

7. A container comprising a barrel composed of stiff `strong water-resistant sheet 'material wound to form a thick strong outer 'marient bottom fitting the ends of the innerv l and intervening walls inset in the outer wall, a mouth ring inset within the outer wall and fitting the ends of the inner and intervening walls, and an .inner metal can within the inner wall and secu-red to said ring to form a tight joint therewith.

8. An insulating and supporting-structure-forming barrel for a container composed of stiff strong water-resistant nonmetallic sheet material forming inner and outer walls of tightly wound secured overlying plies and also forming the supporting structure of an intervening insulating wall composed of overlying wound convolutions of said sheet material and air cell forming insulating material intervening between said convolutions, said insulating wall at its ends sealed against entrance of liquid, and terminating short of the outer wall ends.

9. A container comprising a barrel having a strong semi-elastic non-metallic outer wall and a thick inner insulating wall secured thereto and having end fabric and asphalt seals, a permanent bottom inset in the bottom wall against the lower end of said insulating wall, a mount ring inset in the upper end of the outer wall and seated against the upper end of the insulating wall, and an inner can within the insulating wall with its lower end seated on said bottom and at its upper end fitting and interlocked with said mouth ring to form a liquid tight joint.

10. A container comprising a barrel having an outer wall composed of overlying wound secured convolutions of stiff semielastic strong non-metallic sheet material, an exterior permanent fabric covering projecting over the end edges thereof, a permanent inset bottom in the lower end of said wall, a metal protective ring exteriorly surrounding the lower end of said. fabric covered wall and lapping under said bottom barrel having a bottom closure and' top.

- portion providin an annular flange, a packlng ring facing t e bottom side of the flange, said cover providing an annular retaining groove for said packing ring, said cover having a de ending insulating plug embodying insu ating material and a metal housing for said material, the upper end of said housingbein flanged inwardlyinto said roove and orming the bottom ring engaging ledge of said groove, said cover formed to enter said mouth ring with said packing ring fitting down on said shoulder and 'with said insulating plug depending lthrough said mouth ring into said can.

12. A container having a surrounding enclosure, said enclosure embodying a protective exterior tightly-wound-sheet Wall, an

inner tightly-wound sheet wall, and a thick fabric and waterproof adhesive, said exte-l Y rior, insulating and inner walls being tied together through the insulating wall.

Signed at city of Washington, District of Columbia, this 14th day of April, 1927.

WILLIAM W. WHITE. 

